frame bracing

Interesting that they say:

"remember not to weld directly to the frame as the bracing must be forged in"

What exactly are they trying to state? Maybe, they are afraid that if people weld the frame will twist? Most don't have a frame jig to use to keep the frame from twisting while welding.

I dunno, but they've always had a great reverence for steel and its properties.

gershom wrote:

Interesting that they say:

"remember not to weld directly to the frame as the bracing must be forged in"

What exactly are they trying to state? Maybe, they are afraid that if people weld the frame will twist? Most don't have a frame jig to use to keep the frame from twisting while welding.

I believe they are refering to heat treating the final frame. If you weld without heat treating the metal is brittle at the weld and additional stresses are introduced into the metal. This leads to twisting if the stresses are high enough compared to the strength of the frame.

all this info and it seems no one bothers doing it to a 650 frame. this becuase the 650 dont haev the power to twist the frame? also the 650 frame seems to have a slightly differant frame to the one above.
cheers rob

It may be due to limited power of the 650, or due to people who want to push a bike that much stepping up to a larger bike. Either way, the bracing would have a similar effect on the smaller bikes. The locations might need to be changed somewhat for optimal effect. But we are talking about a 30 year old bike so I doubt they did that much optimizing beyond ensuring a sufficient factor of safety was ever done by MaKawi. One of the reason that the old bikes are still around and holding up versus new bikes with cracked frames and such.

I am debating bracing my 650 as I am planning to throw a gpz750 engine in my 650. Though, I am planning to either brace or replace the swingarm with something stronger. That is one area to brace on the 650 that pays as the tube design allows for twisting.

My center stand is bent I think. The foot lever rest on the ground,and the angle if the main rest is wrong. I think it should set flat. Plus it hits the tire when I put it down.Doesnt rub when up.

i would think it would be hard to bend a center stand but anything is possible i guess.id check the mounting brackets and bolts

The 650 was braced better around the steering head than the big kzs. Adding some braces in simialr areas as mentioned above couldn't hurt, like in front of the engine between the two downtubes, and below the side cover in the V of the frame like on this kz650:



The stock swingarm can be braced similar to how I had mine done, keeping stock wheelbase and mods (swingarm pivot, shock mount etc etc) to a minimum. I did have to loose the center stand and mounts:

It's not quite as beefy but I braced my Z1 with this kit from PMC (Z1E can order it for you)







It's a one kit fits all frames type of thing so there were a few extra bits and my frame already had a brace behind the engine but it's not a bad kit overall

Hi Leon
Any chance you could send that file to me.thanks.
Regards Paul

pmorton@rogers.com

Leon,
if you don't mind - could you send me the file also?

Careyvrs@msn.com

thx
bernhard

sent to both emails.

leon